good racks

[cfiscel]

which, if any stores offer shelving systems that could easily be converted into a rack to eventually house adult balls? if there are none, is it more economical to build one or buy from some of the rack manufacturers? thanks, chris

[tropheusfreak]

all of our racks are 6ft highx4ft wide x 2 ft deep. They are all made from pre made shelving bought from Menards here in Minnesota. Home depot didn't have anything like that. They all look like their dark oak. They had oak, pine, white, and a couple other colors. To build each rack the prices were as follows: The sides were 14.00 each and each 4 ft shelf was 9 for a total of 28.00 for two sides and 99.00 for 11 shelves =127.00 back 4x8 sheet of plywood was 8.99, box of screws 2.99 grand total of 138.98 to build one rack that holds roughly 40 16 quart sterilites and 30 28 quart sterilites. I didn't have to make any cuts just predrilled my holes and screwed them together. took maybe 20 minutes to make a 6x4ft rack. We have 8 of these built now (not quite full yet). for the balls and boas I ran 11" flexwatt for the hot side of the tubs and 3 inch for the cold side. My house is about 70 degrees year round so I needed double heat on the 28quart and up tubs. 16 quart tubs I ran strips of 3 inch for a hot side and a 3 inch for the cool side works wonderfully. For my colubrids I only run 1 strip of 3 inch flexwatt per shelf that works great for heating those guys. I just ordered my first herpstat pro and will be changing over to pretty much all herpstat therms now. Flexwatt is cut into 4ft lengths per shelf. The most expensive part of the racks is heating them and controlling the heat.

[PipeDADDY]

for the balls and boas I ran 11" flexwatt for the hot side of the tubs and 3 inch for the cold side. My house is about 70 degrees year round so I needed double heat on the 28quart and up tubs. 16 quart tubs I ran strips of 3 inch for a hot side and a 3 inch for the cool side works wonderfully.

Hey! I was wondering this myself! I have a rack with tubs 16 1/8" x23 3/4" x 6" (approx)/ 30.6 quarts. It has flexwatt back heat. During this past summer, It kept 90/80 easily. Mainly 92/82. However, my house gets cold. sometimes in the 60s. I bought a oil room heater and can run it on low @ 700watts. But I was thinking about just getting some flexwatt on the cool side and setting it at 82. Back heat maintain ~90 and flexwatt on cool side to ~80. This would use alot less electricity than a 700 watt room heater! Would there be any health concerns for the snakes with this type setup?

[tropheusfreak]

I run 11" belly heat for the hot side and 3" belly heat for the cool side. The only back heat I have is a 4x2ft hatchling rack that holds 6qt. sterilites. I have stripts of 3" flexwatt running down the back of the rack behind each stack of tubs. I myself prefer the belly heat. But it works out a lot better with the hatchling tubs because they are stacked 2 high on each shelf. I don't have any health problems with any of my snakes. They all eat fine too. I still have oil filled heaters from walmart that keep the rooms 75 degress. They are controlled by johnson therms.